Accommodations

North Shore Medical Center (NSMC) offers a wide range of accommodations for patients staying in our hospitals. Room placement is based on a patient's admitting diagnosis and also on bed availability. NSMC makes every effort to honor room requests based on bed availability. To learn about our patient services, go here.

What to pack for an overnight stay:

Comfortable bedclothes (pajamas, bathrobe, slippers)

Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)

Insurance card or forms and a picture ID/drivers license

List of current medications, including dose and frequency

Small amount of cash for newspapers, postage stamps and other items

Battery-operated appliances are allowed

Laptop computers are permitted (but should be sent home when not in use.)

Calling The Nurse

A button to call the nurse is located at the bedside. A staff member will respond to the signal as soon as possible. For safety reasons, patients with a history of falling or who are taking medication that causes dizziness may be asked to call a nurse or staff member for assistance before moving to a chair or getting to the bathroom.

Cellular Phones and Cameras

Use of cellular phones and other wireless communication devices is restricted to public areas. The use of cameras and camera phones is prohibited, but they may be used in the Birthplace after delivery.

Health Education Channel

NSMC is pleased to provide a 24-hour health education channel where patients and visitors can learn about a range of medical conditions. Two half-hour relaxation programs are also offered to help patients rest and recover. To access the health education channel, patients may tune to Channel 20 at NSMC Salem Hospital and Channel 3 at NSMC Union Hospital. Hospital Beds

Hospital beds are electrically operated, and nurses will provide instruction on how to work the bed properly. For patient safety, bedside rails may be raised at night or during the day.

Oxygen

Special regulations are in effect in areas where patients are receiving oxygen to protect against fires. Personal electrically-operated equipment and aerosol products are not permitted in these areas.

Personal Belongings

Patients should notify the nursing staff of any essential items (contact lenses, dentures, eyeglasses, hearing aids, prosthetic devices, braces, orthopedic shoes, canes) that they require during their stay. We recommend that patients mark device cases with their names.

All non-essential items (clothing, shoes, jewelry, wallets, cash, credit cards, cell phones computers and keys) must be sent home with family.

NSMC is not responsible for and cannot guarantee the safety of personal belongings.

Electrical Safety -- Personal electrical devices brought in from home (including electric blankets, fans, heaters, radios, televisions, etc.) are not allowed in the hospital as they could adversely affect nearby patient-care equipment.

Telephones

Telephones are provided in each room. Patients may receive calls in their rooms from 8 - 10 p.m. Local calls may be made from the room by dialing 9 followed by the area code and the number. Patients may dial 0 for operator assistance with long-distance calls. Long-distance calls cannot be charged to the room. A credit card can be used to make a long distance call, or the charge can be made to the patient's home telephone number. TDD equipment is available for the hearing impaired and can be requested by dialing 0.

Television and Books

Book carts stocked with donated paperbacks are made available to patients. Patients may ask a member of their care team to have the cart brought to the room.

Color television sets featuring multiple channels of direct satellite television are provided free of charge in each room. Closed captioning is available on all television sets. All patients are asked to be considerate of other patients by playing television sets softly and by turning off the set at bedtime.

Tobacco-Free Facility

North Shore Medical Center is dedicated to providing a healthy environment for patients, visitors and employees. Smoking or any form of tobacco use is NOT allowed in our buildings or on the grounds and parking lots. Patients who require assistive therapies (nicotine patch or gum) in order to refrain from tobacco use may speak with their nurse about their needs.

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are available throughout the hospital, but getting in and out of them without assistance may be hazardous. Please ask for help from a member of the hospital staff. Wireless Internet

Wireless Internet service is available on some units. Here are instructions for connecting a personal computer to the NSMC network. The hospital cannot be responsible for securing personal computers when patients are not in the room. NSMC cannot offer patients technical assistance for logging on.